This is the 9th in the Lone Star/Paul Mavern Productions series, directed by westerns veteran Robert N. Bradbury (father of westerns star Bob Steele. Its a film with an unusual plot and interesting and different locations suggestive of Canadian pine forests, rather than the American southwest. The plot has Wayne in Canada to find the daughter of his father's friend's estranged brother. Heading north by train he just happens to meet his best friend, Noah Beery, Jr. (Wabi) from his college days. In short order, he becomes involved in a murder Wabi is framed for, escapes by jumping into a river and finding an abandoned cabin where he discovers a map to the gold mine of the man's daughter he is looking for. Reaching the town Wabi lives in, they go to the general store run by Noah Beery, Sr. and Wayne meets Verna Hillie, his love interest in this film and then has the map discovered by one of the bad guys, Earl Dwire, here with a laughable French-Canadian accent. The next day The next day Wayne and Beery, Jr. are caught by a Royal Mounted Police officer. And, so it goes non-stop to the end, when Wayne paddles off with Hillie. Aside from the silly accents and the lack of typical gun play, it is non-stop action.

There was a waterfall on the map, so you knew a waterfall was going to play a role.
The real stars of this movie are the horses and John Wayne's athleticism. Wayne navigates the landscape and waterways like Tarzan, and the horses are just as impressive.
It was interesting to see both Noah Beerys in the same film. However, Senior didn't play the role of the lost miner, as stated in the synopsis.
The Mounties' deputized posse in the climax made a fearless charge into blazing gunfire. I wonder how many citizens really would have done that.
Three stars for a youthful John Wayne (with real hair) showing off his physical prowess.
By the way, was that Nevada Falls subbing for the Canadian waterfall?

As always, corny but good. A trivia note, when Rod (John Wayne) and Wabi(Noah Berry Jr.) are in Mr. Nuisum(Noah Berry Sr.)trading post, take a look at the small wanted poster on the wall behind the counter. It's a wanted poster for Gat Gans. The same poster used in West of the Divide made a year earlier. Four for the film and one for the trivia.